Somyot seeks harsher laws amid street racers' jeers
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General Somyot Pumpunmuang, the National Police chief, yesterday dismissed a reported verbal threat by juveniles who were recently arrested for racing on Bangkok's streets and affirmed that those who violated the law would be severely punished.
“We won’t let children and youths misbehave and commit wrongdoings or create public disturbances. There must be stricter measures in place so that it wasn’t just detention, lawsuit filing, submitting them to rehabilitation and warning parents because they would re-commit the offence,” he said.
On Sunday night, a joint taskforce of police, soldiers and rescue workers rounded up 425 street racers on Ratchaphruek Road in Thon Buri district but later temporarily released 125 juveniles as the police’s 48-hour holding period had expired.
Somyot said the police failed to get the court’s detention order on time – but the matter does not end there. Even though the police were unable to submit the case to the public prosecutor within 48 hours of the arrests, it doesn’t mean the suspects walk free, Somyot said. The case will be with the public prosecutor soon.
Somyot said he would discuss with the Land Transport Department harsher punishments for those charged with street racing. As police had already recorded the information these racers, repeated offenders would face additional punishment and possibly suspension or cancellation of their driving licences, if the Land Transport Department agrees.
“I believe people who have been disturbed by street racers would support the police’s works because we must solve the problem sustainably, not just on a day-to-day basis,” he added.
Pol Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri, his assistant in charge of traffic, would consider the matter and submit a recommendation for Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan to co-ordinate with the Land Transport Department to implement stricter measures, he added.
